Potato digging machine



(No Model.) 5 Sheets--Sheet 1. J. HOLT.

POTATO DIGGING MACHINE.

Patented June 9 WIT asses (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. HOLT. I

POTATO DIGGING' MACHINE. No. 319,581. Patented June 9, 1885.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3. J. HOLT.

POTATO DIGGING MACHINE.

,581. Patented June 9,1885.

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(N9 Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4, J.. HOLT.

POTATO .DIGGING MACHINE.

No. 319,581. Patented June 9, 1885.

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(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5. J. HOLT. POTATO DIGGING MAOHINE.

N0. 319,581. Patented June 9,1885.

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JAMES HOLT, OF DUNHAM MASSEY, COUNTY OF CHESTER, ENG-LAND.

POTATO-=DIGGING MACl-HNE.

FaPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 319,581, dated June 9, 1885.

Application filed October .32, 1884. (No model.) Patented in England January 22, 1884, No. 1,863.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES HOLT, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Dunharn Massey, in the county of Chester, England, have invented certain new and use- ,ful Improvements in Potato-Digging Ma'- and the roots or potatoes deposited together in heaps, or preferably in rows, free from the loose soil and ready to be gathered and taken away. It is best described by aid of the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the appara tus; Fig. 2, aplan view of same, partly in section, with some of the parts which are removed shown in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan, partly in section, showing the cutter and driving mechanism therefor; Fig. 4, a side elevation of same; Fig. 5, a front elevation of same, partly in section; Fig. 6, an enlarged front elevation of chain-wheel which conveys motion to the main driving-shaft I; Fig. 7, a sectional elevation of same; Fig. 8, a side elevation of guide H and guide-plate Q; Fig. 9, a plan of same; Fig. 10, a sectional elevation on line a as, Fig. 9.

Ais a strong framework of wood or metal, carrying a revolving conical drum or cage, B, into which the potatoes as they are dug are raised and riddled or cleaned. In front of the mouth of the drum B is placed a scoop,O, with a projecting lip or share, 0, which enters the ridge in which the potatoes are growing, and collects the roots and mold, all being forced by the traveling movement of the machine up into the revolving drum B. The scoop O is held in position latera-lly by two arms or rods, D, pivoted to it at d, and to the frame A at d. It' is supported from the top by the rod E, which is pivoted to the lever E.

E is a rod or shaft running transversely across the machine, carried in brackets 6", upon which the lever E is pivoted, and which carries the weight of the scoop G. The scoop G is raised or lowered by means of the lever B, the handle of which moves in a guide or quadrant, c. The rod E is divided in two and joined wilh an adjusting coupling device, 6, provided internally with a rightandleft-hand screwoue at each end-into which correspondingly-cut screws on the ends of the rod fit. This device enables me to adjust to a nicety the height of the scoop 0. Radial bars 0 C are also mounted or fixed 011 the top of the scoop O, to assist in keeping the scoop in position during the digging operation, and are made to pass through bosses c 0*, formed on the plate 0, attached to the frame-work. In each radial arm 0 O are a number of holes, 0, through which a pin, 0", passes for holding the scoop to the required height, and thus taking all strain off the rod E and its adjustable coupling device 0, and at the same time preventing the tip or share 0 entering too deeply into the ridge. The revolving conical cage B is formed, preferably, of a number of laths or thin pieces, preferably of iron, I), placed circumferentially around it. The fore part or lip, G, of the conical drum is contracted and forms a shorter reverse cone, and the drum B is made to revolve clear of the scoop O. The potatoes and dirt delivered by the scoop C are prevented from falling out by this shorter cone 0, which delivers them into the main cone. Through it longitudinally runs a threebladed Archimedean screw, B, though it may have a more or less number of blades. These blades are formed of a number of thin flat,round,0r halfround bars or laths,b,placed at convenient distances apart to allow the dirt to pass through the spaces into the main cone while the potatoes are being passed to the rear end of the cage. The laths b are attached to the circumference of the screws where they come in contact, and to three or more longitudinal stays, If, on the circumference of the cone. The central axis, B", of the cage runs nearly horizontally, though it is raised or lowered atits front end as the scoop C is raised and lowered, the bearing b being fixed to the scoop, as shown. The rear end of the shaft B is carried in abearing,b*,suspended by a bracket from the frame A. A universal joint or coupling, 6 of the form shown, or any other convenient form, is attached tothe shaft at this end to allow of the raising and lowering movement at the front end. The cage B is set diagonally in the frame A, as shown in the plan view, Fig. 2, so as to deliver the potatoes clear of the ridge from which they have been dug.

G is a revolving cutter placed at the side of the machine for the purpose of cutting off the tops from the potatoes before the digging or raises and gathers the tops together and holds them firm while the revolving cutter lops them off. This guide H is provided with the partially-rounded ends it h, for raising the haulms or tops from the ground and carrying them up the incline k onto the flat part it of the guide. A fence, k is also provided for preventing the haulms or tops falling into or becoming entangled with the bevel-gearing N. Through a slot or opening, h, in the fence h the cutter G is made to pass. Motion is conveyed to the main driving-shaft I by chains J J from wheels k 70 on the axle of the wheels K K. These chains connect with wheels L L on the shaft I. The chain-wheels Yak revolveloosely on the axles of the wheels K K, and internal ratchet-wheelsflc kflare formed on the wheels k k,into which spring-pawls k" engage. These pawls k are carried in the ends or sockets of levers k, keyed onto the bosses k of the wheels ward motion of one or both of the wheels K K is reversed, the pawl becomes disengaged from the ratchet-teeth and ceases to convey motion to the chain-wheels, and thereby. permits of the machine'being reversed without disturbing the cage or cutter.

When preferred, instead of the lever k carrying the pawl 70", a disk or plate keyed to the boss is, and made to cover the ratchet-wheel, may be employed, and on this plate or disk may bemounted one or more spring-pawls made to engage with the teeth of the ratchet. The wheels L L run loose on the shaft I, and are connected with clutches 'M M, keyed to and sliding on the shaft I. These clutches are thrown into and out of gear by the levers m m, actuated by the handle m Motion is conveyed from the driving-shaft I to the cage B through the beveled skew-gearing N, and to the cutter G through the beveled gearing N. The shaft I is shown as one piece driven at both ends; but, if found more convenient,

' it may be made in two, one part driving the cage B, receiving motion through the chain J,

and the other part driving the cutter G, re-

ceiving motion through the chain J. Clutches to each part may be used as described, or the 1' one sliding on each end of the shaft may be 1 actuated separately, so that one may be in gear while the other is out of gear.

P I are shares for removing the dirt or clay from the front of the cage, so as to permit as little as possible of it coming in contact with the scoop 0. These shares extend sufficiently far to make a leveled place for the deposit of the potatoes from the back of the cage. Shoe I? enters first and deepest into the soil and removes a portion away, while P is attached to the projecting lip c, and aids it in entering the ridge and digging the potatoes.

Q is another guide-plate to remove the tops when out by the cutter G, and is hinged to the guide H at q. The wheel g is employed for supporting the plate Q and preventing it dragging on the ground.

R are the shafts, and S and S are steadyingwheels.

A seat for the driver may be provided, if required, and when a seat is provided the levers E and m may be turned upward.

At the rear end of the cage is provided a fixed semicircular delivery board or plate, T, (shown in Fig. 2,) conforming to the curvature of the lower side of the cage, while a portion of the lower part is cut away in L form, to admit of a piece of india-rubber or other flexible material, t, being attached to it, as shown in Fig. 1. This piece 25 droops onto the ground from the delivery-board T, and adjusts itself to any unevenness of the ground,and thereby delivering the roots carefully on the ground to one side of the machine, instead of dropping them from a height, as is usually done. The

delivery-board is fixed to the framing by suitable brackets or supports.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: It is drawn by one or more horses or other draft-animals yoked to it in the usual manner. The scoop O engages with the ridge of potatoes to be unearthed and raises the roots and mold,which fall into the narrow cone 0 at the front of the cage. These are then caught by the screw-blades and passed to the rear of the cage. with the revolving action of the cage, fall out between the laths, and the potatoes, riddled clean, are delivered ina long row clear of the track that the wheel of the machine will take. The oblique direction of the axis aids the outward motion of the potatoes. At the same time and concurrently with the operation just described the stalks and tops of the potatoes in the next ridge are collected together by the V-shaped guide I-I,cut off by the cutter G,and deposited clear of the track by the guideplate Q.

Iam aware that it is not new to provide the driving-wheel with a clutch by which to connect or disconnect the said wheel and the operating parts of the machine, and hence do not claim such idea, broadly.

I claim as my invention 1. In a machine for digging potatoes and other roots, the combination, with a wheeled supporting-frame, A, of the revolving riddling-cage B, provided with a perforated internal screw, B, said cage B being set at an angle to the line of travel of the machine and adapted to receive the roots directly from the ground, as set forth.

The clay and mold, being broken fine 2. In a machine for digging potatoes, &c., the combination, with a wheeled supportingframe, A, of the revolving riddlin'g-cage B, provided with a perforate internal screw, B, and having at its forward end the scoop or shovel O, for delivering the roots directly into the cage, said cage being set at an angle to the line of travel of the machine and adapted to deliver the cleaned potatoes to one side there- 0", as set forth.

3. In a machine for digging potatoes, the combination, with the driving-shaft I, of the chain-gearing J, ratchet-wheel k pawl k, and lever 70, for conveying motion between the wheels 76 and L and the clutch M, substantially as described and shown.

4. The combination, with the revolving cutter, of the V-shaped guide H, with its partially-rounded ends, and the guide Q, substan- 2o tially as described.

5. In a machine for digging potatoes, the combination of a frame, a cage carried by said frame, and a fixed semicircular delivery-board at the lower rear edge of the cage, having its flexible portion resting upon the ground, whereby the potatoes are delivered from the cage to one side of the machine, as set forth.

6. The combination, with a revolving cage or drum, B, of a fixed semicircular delivery board or plate, '1, at thelower rear end of the cage,and its flexible part it, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES HOLT.

WVitnesses:

I. OWDEN OBRIEN, JosEr. J. RoYDEN. 

